San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-08-01
THE BURNSIDE MONUMENT.

is Of bronze, one and a half times life size,
and stands on a pedestal of granite sixteen
feet high. The proportions are so true that,
though the figure of Gen. Burnside is nearly
nine feet long, it seems in harmony with the
immense horse, and the beholder does not at
first view realize the size of the figures.
The general is represented as upon an emf
nence with his face turned to the left, at
tentively watching the movements of differ
ent troops, and this idea is borne out by the
field glass in his hand The skill of the artist
is shown in the vivid, lifelike attitude of the
horse, which seems tremulous with depressed
action, though all the feet rest upon the
ground; the ears are pricked up and the nos
trils dilated, as if seeming the battle. 1t cost
about $40, 600 which was raised by the state,
the city of Providence and private dona-
tions. 1t is the production of Mr.. Launt
Thompson, of New York city.
An interesting fact concerning the statue
is revealed by an inspection of Mr.. Thomp-
sons method of work. In early life a stu
dent of medicine, he paid especial attention
to anatomy, and when he abandoned medi-
cine for sculpture his early training came
into use. In the clay modelling of the Burn
side statue the man was mounted upon the
horse nude, the anatomy of the form being
almost as well developed as if the nude man
was TO be the completed figure Then the
figure was clothed as if it was live man,
though in different order and by different
means. The hat, gauntlets, bots, outer gar
ments, sash, ETC., were all put on separately.
The horse was also treated in a similar man
ner. The horse was cast in eight sections,
the man in six and the plinth in one. The
sections of the model of the horse for the
foundry were: The head and neck to junction
of the shoulders, the fore part to junction of
the saddle, running round the saddle and fol-
lowing the girth, the hind part of the body,
the tail and each of the four legs. The
horse is dovetailed into the plinth, so to speak,
projections in the hoofs fitting into cor
responding hollows in the plinth. The sec
tons of the man were the head and neck, TO
the junction Of the latter with the shirt col
lar; each hand to the junction of the gaunt-
lets with the coat sleeves; the body above
and To junction with the sash; the lower part
of the body and legs in two sections, each
section including leg. The reins and all
flying accessories, like sword, tassels, field
glasses and cases for the same, ETC., were
cast in separate pieces.
Gen. Sherman was the chief figure of in
terest in the procession, seated in barouche,
drawn by four white horses. The Rhode
Island militia was under command Of its reg
ular officers, the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie and veteran divisions under their respect
i've officials, while the line generally was
directed by Col. Isaac NJ Potter as chief
marshal. OF the 10000 men in line, $500
were veterans of tue war. Governor Davis
opened the exercises with a brief address;
Rev. Joseph j. Woolley, of Pawtucket, Of
fered prayer, and then Gen Lewis Richmond,
formerly of Burnside's staff, unveiled the
statue with a few appropriate words.